Newsletter

Growth continues in Pooler

Searching for signs of restrained recovery? Look west.

Pooler — Chatham County’s boom town, which grew from a population of 6,455 in 2000 to 19,140 in 2010, according to U.S. Census figures — continued to grow last week, with the City Council approving plans for a new roller-skating rink, a dollar store and 39 new homes.

But it wasn’t all good news. The general contractor for the skating rink couldn’t give a firm time line for construction. And the residential developer downsized plans. Both made vague references to financing when asked why.

Tony Coker, general contractor for Royal Skate, said developers hope to have a 28,348-square-foot skating rink finished by February, though he couldn’t say for certain when construction will begin. It’ll be located off Towne Center Court, next to the bowling alley/arcade Frames N Games, and is being built by Jimmy Patel, owner of Frames N Games.

The rink will feature a full-service restaurant with a bar, inflatable play structures, arcade games, three party rooms and a 10,000-square-foot roller rink.

Several Pooler residents showed up to ask questions about the Family Dollar planned to be built on U.S. 80 next to O’Reilly Auto Parts, questioning whether the city needs a second Family Dollar.

J.J. Lamberson — president of Twin Rivers Capital, the company developing the dollar store — said market studies show a need. City Attorney Steven Scheer said market doesn’t matter. Dollar stores are allowed in the area under the city’s zoning map, and officials would be open to a lawsuit if they tried to block the store from being built.

The City Council approved the store’s site plan but stipulated the front and sides of the building couldn’t be tin.

Also Monday, the city approved the site plan for a modified version of construction plans for phase 2 of the Somersby Development, located off Pine Barren Road.

There are 163 homes completed in the development, which has been under construction since late 2005. In April, council members approved plans to build 169 homes during the second phase of construction in Somersby.

But the developer, Pine Barren Partners, broke that second phase up into chunks. Current plans call for 39 homes to be built, and the City Council required the developer to come back for re-approval.

Homes built in the second phase of development are expected to range from $150,000 to $220,000.

In other business, the City Council approved a $45,500 contract with Kern-Coleman & Co. for engineering and surveying for a traffic light at the intersection of Pine Barren Road and U.S. 80.

City officials hope to start building the traffic light within the year, at a total cost of about $250,000. It’ll be funded with sales tax revenue.